Amos 8:3 KJV,ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

The great reason why sinners defer their repentance de die in diem?from day to day, is because they think God thus defers his judgments, and there is no song wherewith they so effectually sing themselves asleep as that, My Lord delays his coming; and therefore God, by his prophets, frequently represents to Israel the day of his wrath not only as just and certain, but as very near and hastening on apace; so he does in these verses. I. The approach of the threatened ruin is represented by a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:3

And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day , saith the Lord God ,.... Not the songs sung by the Levites in the temple of Jerusalem, this prophecy respects the ten tribes only; but those in imitation of them, sung in the temple at Bethel, and other idol temples; or profane songs in the palaces of princes and nobles; that is, instead of these, there should be howlings for the calamities come upon them. So the Targum, "they shall howl, instead of a song, in their houses... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:3

The songs of the temple - Instead of שירות shiroth , songs, Houbigant reads שורות shoroth , the singing women; and Newcome follows him: "And the singing women of the palace shall howl in that day." Instead of joyous songs, they shall have nothing but lamentation. They shall cast them forth with silence - Every place shall be filled with the dead, and a dreadful silence shall reign universally; the few that remain being afraid either to speak or complain, or even to chant a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:3

Verse 3 The Prophet touches the Israelites here, in an indirect way, for taking such delight in their superstitions as to sing in their prosperity, as though God was favorable to them; for the unbelieving are wont to misconstrue both the hatred and the favor of God by the present appearance of things. When the Turks enjoy prosperity, they boast that God is on their side: we see also that the Papists draw the same conclusion. It is the disposition of men not to look so much on themselves as on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

A nation ripe for ruin. While immunity lasts iniquity will go on. Men only love it less than they fear suffering. In the actual presence of the penalty the hand of the transgressor is stayed. The murderer will not strike the death blow under a policeman's eye. The blasphemer will not move a lip when the thunderbolt is crashing through his roof. But by so little does the one feeling master the other that if punishment be not both certain and at hand, the fear of it will fail to deter from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

Ripeness for judgment. "Thus hath the Lord God showed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit," etc. The text suggests three general truths. I. WICKED NATIONS GROW RIPE FOR JUDGMENT . The "basket of summer fruit," now presented in vision to Amos, was intended to symbolize that his country was ripe for ruin. This symbol suggests: 1 . That Israel ' s preset moral corruption was no hasty... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-14

§ 5. In the fourth vision, the basket of summer fruit, the Lord shows that the people is ripe for judgment. Explaining this revelation, Amos denounces the oppression and greed of the chieftains (verses 4-10), and warns them that those who despise the Word of God shall some day suffer from a famine of the Word (verses 11-14). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:3

The songs of the temple; Septuagint, τὰ φατνώματα τοῦ ναοῦ , "the pannels of the temple;" Vulgate, cardines templi. These versions point to a different reading. It is better rendered, "the songs of the palace," referring to the songs of the revellers mentioned already ( Amos 6:5 ). These shall be changed into howlings of lamentation for the dead which lie around (comp. Amos 8:10 ). There shall be many dead bodies . The Hebrew is more forcible: "Many the corpses: in every... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 8:3

The songs of the temple shall be howlings - Literally, “shall howl.” It shall be, as when mirthful music is suddenly broken in upon, and, through the sudden agony of the singer, ends in a shriek or yell of misery. When sounds of joy are turned into wailing, all must be complete sorrow. They are not hushed only, but are turned into their opposite. Since Amos is speaking to, and of, Israel, “the temple” is, doubtless, here the great idol-temple at Bethel, and “the songs” were the choral music,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 8:3

Amos 8:3. And the songs of the temple shall be howlings, &c. Houbigant renders it, And the singers of the palace shall howl, the word היכל , signifying palace as well as temple; and as Amos prophesied against Israel, not against Judah, the temple, properly so called, could not be meant here. There shall be many dead bodies in every place In cities, towns, and the country; in all places shall the bloody effects produced by the enemies’ sword, and by famine and pestilence, be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 8:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 8:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 8:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 8:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 8:3

Group of Brands